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Brisbane is not a city to give England some much-needed confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to the Australian side during the opening match, England need to regroup for a trip to the famous Gabba, a ground where the English haven't triumphed for over thirty years

Men wearing three lions have frequently been lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane

The Inspirational Achievement

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story provided by a cricket hero

Today commemorates a decade and a half after Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, saving the first Test of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under during recent memory

Historic Achievement

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs

The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs in a series on Australian soil

England won 3-1, where each success through innings victories

They have not won a Test victory there since that memorable series

Personal Reflections

"One tends to forget the tough times, the apprehension and concern that went into that," Cook remembers

"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil with every match came through innings wins"

Path to Success

Cook's road to his Australian epic started a year and a half before following the 2009 Ashes in the UK

England won, the opener averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance exceeding half-century

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, individual contribution does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he explains

Game Improvement

Shortly after the celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets under Graham Gooch's guidance

The initial results showed promise

Cook made three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

Upon his return to home soil for that year's summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance was 29

Scoreless overnight after day two of the third Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed he was playing his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"There I was at the bar, attempting to discover the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals

Critical Moment

The 110-run innings secured his place on the plane to Australia

England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw in practice matches down under

When the first Test arrived in Brisbane, they were hit by a Siddle hat-trick

Record-Breaking Stand

An hour before day three's conclusion, both batsmen began England's second batting effort trailing by 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps and followed up with a performance remembered in Ashes history

"I cannot recall the messages, anything of what we spoke about," Cook remembers

Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs together

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score from an English player in Australia for 82 years

Complete Control

England exploited a remarkable opening session during the following Test at Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and struggled throughout

He continued his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

Ultimate Victory

Victory was possible the urn in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

The subsequent events included perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil

In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. There was disbelief as the day ended," Cook remembers

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, Cook was at it again at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the game and series, but when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed the final batsman to win the match, that was a time of absolute joy"

Legacy and Recognition

Cook was player of the series

The remaining seven years of his Test career featured additional achievements

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|